On a roll: Spurs streak into Sacramento

(Sports Network) – The San Antonio Spurs will try to extend their season-high
winning streak to 11 games this evening when they wrap up a four-game road
trip against the Sacramento Kings at ARCO Arena.

San Antonio has won all three matchups so far on its road trip, including
Tuesday’s 99-94 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden.
Manu Ginobili scored 23 points and buried a pair three-pointers late in the
fourth quarter to help the Spurs rally from a 12-point deficit for their 10th
straight win.

The Spurs are riding their first 10-game winning streak since an 11-game burst
to close out the 2003-04 season.

Tim Duncan scored 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the win for the
Spurs, who finished the game on a 14-2 run. The Spurs played Portland largely
without guard Tony Parker, who was limited to 18 minutes with a left hip
flexor strain that kept him out of the previous two games.

The Spurs, who are ranked third overall in the West, have won six in a row on
the road and own a 23-10 record away from the AT&T Center this season.

Meanwhile, the Kings have won four in a row and will close out a three-game
homestand tonight versus the Spurs. On Tuesday Sacramento notched a 102-98 win
over the Indiana Pacers, as Kevin Martin scored a game-high 27 points to go
along with seven rebounds in the triumph.

Mike Bibby had 22 points for Sacramento, which improved to 18-12 at home this
season despite playing without second-leading scorer Ron Artest. In what would
have been his first game against his former team, Artest was not in uniform
one day after being arrested for domestic violence at his home in Loomis, CA.

According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Department, a female called 911 at
9:23 a.m. local time on Monday, reporting that she had been assaulted by
Artest. Deputies responded and found both parties in the home, but separated.
Artest cooperated during the interview and was booked without incident before
posting bond. He is awaiting a March 22nd arraignment. On Tuesday, the Kings
indefinitely excused Artest from the team.

Sacramento is currently a game off the eighth and final playoff spot in the
Western Conference.

Thursday’s showdown between San Antonio and Sacramento is the third of four
meetings this season. The Spurs have won the first two matchups and will host
the Kings at the AT&T Center on April 11.

San Antonio has won six of seven and eight of the last 10 meetings. It has
also won three straight and six of the last eight meetings at ARCO Arena.